News: fatal crash IAF rescue Mi-17 - 8 dead

[Tintin]

http://www.firstpost.com/india/airforce ... ory_widget

An MI17 chopper carrying pilgrims during a rescue sortie has crashed.

The chopper which was engaged in rescue operations in Gaurikund was reportedly carrying three civilians and five crew members when it crashed, the report said, adding that it had been returning from a rescue mission from Kedarnath.

“One Mi-17 V5 chopper on a rescue mission from Gauchar to Guptkashi and Kedarnath while returning from Kedarnath crashed north of Gaurikund,” an IAF spokesperson said.

Eight persons onboard, including five crew members, suffered fatal injuries in the mishap, she said in Delhi. A Court of Inquiry has been order to investigate the
crash, the spokesperson said.

The IAF said its operations in the area will continue.

IAF had started inducting Mi-17 V5 choppers only last year after 80 of them were ordered from Russia.
The cause of the crash is still not known and rescue crew are en route to the site of the accident. However unconfirmed reports said that fog could have been the reason for the crash.

There is no confirmation of any survivors from the crash, the report stated.

Bad weather has been hindering rescue operations for the last 48 hours with intermittent rain and low visibility making it impossible for air sorties to take place. The choppers had been flying in a ‘window’ of fair weather to get out people from the area.

Around 60-70 people are still stranded in Kedarnath.

This is the second incident of a helicopter crash this week inUttarakhand. A private helicopter carrying relief materials for the rain-affected people in Rudraprayag district had crashed on Sunday near Gaurikund leaving the pilot injured.

[Tintin]

Death toll rises to 20...

http://idrw.org/?p=23679

The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the ill-fated Mi-17 helicopter were today recovered near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand a day after it crashed during rescue mission, even as IAF chief NAK Browneruled out possibility of any of the 20 men on board surviving.

“Fortunately, we have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. And, I think, in a few days’ time, we will get to know absolutely as to what exactly happened,” he told reporters after interacting with IAF officers and men here.

He said that at this juncture, it would be premature for him to comment as to the reason behind the crash — if it was the weather or a technical problem.

Browne said he had been told there were no survivors among the 20 people on board — five from IAF, six from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and nine from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Asked if the envelope of safety had been pushed, he said, “I won’t say that anything was pushed… In the mountains, especially during the monsoon, weather is always an issue. But, at this point of time, we are not quite sure if it was the weather or a technical problem (that led to the crash).”

He said during rescue missions the risk factor is always considered very closely and it is reviewed almost on a daily basis.

The IAF pilots, he said, were highly qualified and absolute competent in carrying out such missions and the morale of the force is extremely high. The performance of the personnel of the IAF and other agencies involved has been “absolutely marvellous”.

Browne said if the IAF got three to four days of good weather, it will be able to complete its mission.

“If the weather starts improving by Friday or so, then by Monday, Tuesday we should have all this (task) finished,” he said.